Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 9:19 AM

OK so I need to explain the pictures a bit. This week we were able to get Bruni and Cielo baptized with lots of help from our Bishop, District, and lots and lots of prayers to God. She knew it was the right thing to do but she just needed a little push.

So here she is happily getting baptized with her daughter Cielo!

And here is a picture of us at Church the next day.

We were so happy and sad that we have to leave each other for a little time.

Here is a picture with our Bishop and this family.

His little girl Bianca is crazy, crazy, crazy, but I love her.

And then the picture with me with random things that I have found in my luggage that I have not used and not even opened, hahha, and probably wont use, hahaha. My comp had a good laugh of my ridiculous gidup, hahaha. Thanks Mom for getting me prepared but I don´t think that I will be using the Mosquito net, hahaha. My Comp and I were thinking of camping outside with it our last night together.

Thank you for all your prayers for Bruni. I know they helped. Take care of Grandpa Graham. It was good to hear your voices and see you guys. I hope Braydon is good too, Happy Birthday from Panama! Man I can tell right now that it is going to be weird to hear all to guys speaking English to me. My brain was freaked out just hearing all you guys, hahaha. Ya, and Grandma really has an accent, a southern accent, hahah. Love you guys so much.

Well I don´t know where I will be going yet but I do know that I am going for sure. We will see how things turn out. I pretty much am ready to work out my last few weeks here in Panama!!!!

Love you, love you, love you!!!!!!!

Hermana Ochs

Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 9:08 AM

So here are some photos of our two temple trips.

The first picture is us with Hermana Tomasa our lunch lady on our first Temple trip this week.

The next picture Me and Hermana Torres with Bruni and Cielo on our second Temple trip.

And here is a nice shot of the Temple at night.

Man those pictures of Elder Ochs in Concepcion are so beautiful!!!! I am just a bit jealous.

Hey so DAD Happy happy Father`s Day!!! I love you!!!!!

Ok, this weekend was so crazy. I am learning so much about the importance of following the whispers of the spirit!!! All this week we have been preparing Bruni and Cielo for there Baptism. Well as we have been working with her the opposition has been working too. She has had a lot of trials and temptations. The Devil is trying to scare her and bring her down. Saturday we went to teach the daughter and the mom was inside cleaning when her old preacher from church comes to talk with her. We didn´t know what they talked about but it counldn`t have be positive. We asked her if she was ok and she said "yes", so we left it at that. Then on Sunday morning at 5 am I woke up really scared and knew that there wasn`t something right but I said a prayer to God for protection and went back to bed. So later we were getting ready for church and we called Bruni to remind her of her baptism interview after Church and she was saying "no we are not going today because we are going to visit family." I told her "Well, we were going to announce your baptism today in church it would be good if you came." Then she was saying, "it´s just that Cielo is not ready and I am not ready yet." I knew something was wrong and I persisted until she finally said, "Ok, we will come to church but I am not ready." So she came to church and I tried asking what was up and she said she was scared and frustrated. Then it hit me that this was not God but Satan working against her. She explained later that the preacher was warning her that she was getting into something bad and said all kinds of bad things about the church. Bruni said that she went to bed scared and woke up at 5am Sunday morning really scared. We took her into a room and talked and shared with her the importance of prayer and fasting. And also that Satan is going to try to scare you, but God will guard you and keep you safe. I told her that even Joseph Smith had been attacked by this evil force when he was looking for God the most.

So we are fasting for Bruni, Cielo and Bruno. We talked with the Bishop and we are going to have a Family Home Evening this morning. We called Bruni this morning to invite her and we found out that she has no food for her or her children. We are planning on donating our fast money to buy her food!!!!! Man this is a pretty crazy fight but I know we will win!

I know that the more we know of the Gospel and feel the love that Christ has, the more we see the needs of people and we can serve them!!!! We are Christain Solders Marching off to War against the Evil one!!!!!!!

Man I love you guys so so much and remember to Never Never Doubt and Always Always Pray!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please pray for us and Bruni and her family!!!

Love,

Hermana Ochs

Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Weeeeee, got to go to the Temple Today!!!!!! Hurray hurray! It was so awesome. Man I can not explain but the mission is such a blessing and everyone in it is here for a reason. My comp, my leaders, my Pres., our investigators and the people. I saw so many people I knew from other areas and from Tocumen. Our lunch lady Hermana Tomasa was really sad this week because she wasn´t going to be able to go to the ward temple trip, but we were all excited about being able to go the Temple. Well what happened is that the Bishop went with her to get a health card for her business but I guess she needed some other exams so they couldn´t get the health card. SO instead they came over to the Temple the same session as us!!! SO we had the whole 24 de Diciembre family in the Temple. It was awesome!!!! This was the first time for Hermana Torres.

So this week we just are being guided and blessed for all the work we have been doing here!!! This weekend was Stake Conference and Bruni came with Cielo. They were so excited and they got to meet President Ward and his wife. In the conference we talked a lot about Temples and Bruni commented at the end that she wants to see the Temple of Panama. President Ward offered to take a field trip to see the Temple, so tomorrow we are going again to go to the Temple with Bruni Cielo and her son Bruno. It is going to be a blast. At the distribution center we bought her scriptures a hymn book and some cds. I also stocked up on garments!!! Hurray!!!

Well I am alive and just hoping to make it to the end, hahaha. Ooo ya we had interviews with the President and he asked where I would like to end.....I gave him the suggestion a place pretty and NOOO BUSES!!! Haha. We will see but I could be going to Boquete!!!! A place very pretty a bit cold and away from buses!!!

But for now we are so excited to be getting Hermana Bruni and her family ready to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ!!!!

I love you guys so much. Mom where is Cathryn going to school. I talked to Hermana Ward about school and I believe that I am going to try to register for the winter semester at BYU. It starts in January. It would be cool if Johnny got registered too and we could go together!!!! Ya but I can wait tell I am home to do that.

Dad that video was not real, was it. Anyway funny stuff, thanks. Hey thanks for sending one more survival kit, hehe. I will be waiting!!!

Love you all and chao for now,

Hermana Ochs

Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 9:22 AM

Woooo-whooo! This week was awesome!! We went to work challenging investigators to Baptismal dates!!! We challenged 5 of our investigators and two of them excepted!!!! Brunilda and her daughter Cielo (in Spanish that means heaven). We were super duper happy and they have come two Sundays in a row!!! Hurray for Bruni and Cielo!!

Yes and I gave my testimony this Fast Sunday too! My comp went up and because we are a family I needed to also. Actually I wanted to anyways. Yep it is pretty cool this week.

The ward is having a Rescue week. The members are supposed to go out to find and visit 200 menos activios and invite them to come back to church. This call for a Rescue week came from the Prophet Thomas S Monson, cool huh. I hope that they can meet the goal. It really would be awesome!!! It will also be a sacrifice because this is vacation week for all the kids. I think sometimes, “man, I don't know if I would have done this back when I was their age and on vacation.”

Wow, I am pretty jealous of the beach adventure Johnny had.....we don´t really get to go to places like that. But we did go to the little waterfall jungle hike place. Here is a picture of me when I had to go check out a cool hill on the way there. I had a good soaking my feet and relaxing time. I don´t know what we are doing today but I am hoping to do something fun to get a little de-stresser.

Yes, it was sad but the Baptism date with Jose fell through. But we have got to find him and his Mom to see if we can still save it.

As for me and Hermana Torres, we are on a spiritual high just going and working and always praying for the help of God. I have been studying in Mormon and Ether. These are sad but awesome chapters! They talk so much about how those that follow God will be blessed in the land and those that don´t will be destroyed, ooooaaaa. But most of all that the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the church will bring light to the World, and that the person or persons that do this work need to have the mira puesta únicamente en la Gloria de Dios (an eye single to the Glory of God). Sorry I can´t think of the translation and it doesn´t sound as cool in English, haha. Something like the vision only in the Glory of God, haha. Well, may we all work in the Glory of God , to praise him on high and bow to his Son, our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Love you guys so so much. I hope work is going well and that you are enjoying yourselves. I am glad to hear how much God has and is blessing you guys.

Lots of Love,

Hermana Ochs

Mon, May 30, 2011 at 9:38 AM

Ok so the first picture that I am sending you is of a storm that was coming in as we were out and about. The next set of four pictures are photos of the Luau we had as a stake activity!!!! We were all dressed up as Tongan/Hawaiian peoples. It was really cool!! The guys danced the hwaka hwaka and all the members were excited to play and dance too. I had a Cuna tie my skirt to keep it up like they do!

So now for the good news of this week. We have a baptism date with Jose Fernadez!!! SO we are super excited!!

I am so sorry that this email is short. I kind of wrote Johnny and one of my comps, Hermana Ramirez too! But then I loved looking at all your pictures. Everyone looks good and healthy!!! Yes, we are ready to go hiking today. I am jealous of Johnny because he has nice cool weather and mountains!! Hey, maybe I can die (end her mission) in a nice cool place next change. We do have a place called Concipcion too! I would love to end my mission in Boquete or Concipcion!!!

Well like always I am happy and I love you all soooo much! Ooo ya, Jon and Anna better be there at the airport!!! hehe

Chao,

Hermana Ochs

Mon, May 23, 2011 at 9:35 AM

Man that was a long email, hahaha. But I loved the video clip, haha. (we sent her a clip from Toy Story 3 of Buzz Lightyear and Jessie dancing to a Spanish edition of "You've Got A Friend In Me") Hay un amigo en mi, haha! Love it!

I loved hearing your stories for the week!


Mon, May 23, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Oops, I sent the email to soon.

This last week we found out that Hermana Torres and I will be together for one more change making this my 4th change here and I will have 6 months in Tocumen.

This last week we did a service project were we cleaned up the yard of investigator. Here are a few pictures of before and after.

Man, I just have to tell you how happy I am right now. We had the most awesome experience last night. So it was Sunday and we were looking for investigators but no one was home. As we were walking my companion said "how about we stop by the Clenes house." We had just meet her this last week and we were trying to find her this weekend. It was late but we went. As we walked up to her house she was outside with lots of people and I kind of thought maybe they were drinking but we thought that we at least go bye to say hi. Everyone was quiet but a guy invited us over. We came up and asked, "How are you?" She told us, "Bad." Then we asked what happened, and she responded, "My husband died this morning." Ooh man. We didn´t really know what to do but talk a little bit with her. Her friends got up and offered their chairs next to Celenes. I sat down and was listening to her talk to her family. My companion felt uncomfortable and wanted to go but said, "before we go lets do a prayer." When I asked Celenes she said yes and gathered the family and friends around, and I started the prayer. I really didn´t know if I could say the appropriate things but I asked for peace to be with her, that her family and friends would support her and that they should all remember to look for God and that he is here for them. During the prayer I could hear people crying and sniffling. When we finished I looked up and all the kids had come to join the prayer and everyone was together. It was so interesting and I know that they felt the spirit of peace and the Love of God. Man, I know that we were guided to the house of Celenes just in the right time when she needed to feel the love of God. I know that God leads his servants in his work.

I love you so so much.

Chao,

Hermana Ochs

Mon, May 16, 2011 at 9:27 AM

Ok so this last week I got a new memory card for my camera so I will save the other one for you Dad to try to fix.

The rain has started, yep yep and it is so much more refreshing! This week is changes so I won't know until Wednesday. But I am 70% I am going and 30% that I could stay. We will see where I could finish my mission!!! High hoping in San Blas!!!!! hehehe Then I could really get you guys some Real Mola from the Island! haha But yes Mom that would be cool to bring a mola for Rebecca and Ron.

So this week we did some really cool service projects. First the Elders asked us to help out one of their investigators. He is an old man that has been coming to church for years but hasn´t quite smoking until just recently. Well he has, or had, super long toe nails, and we did him the favor of getting them cut.......ewwwwwwwy. Haha. They were so thick, like horse hooves, haha. But it is good that I have watched Grandpa Graham cutting the horses hooves. So we shared a little message about when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as his feet soaked, then we went to washing and cutting his toe nails. It was really cool and he said he felt like a movie star.

So then we helped one of our investigators that is pregnant and needed help painting her babies room. That was cool too and she was very grateful. The Mom told us that her home was always open to us when ever we need a roof over our heads. Her daughter was excited to have a sleepover and wanted to come to our house too. haha

Ok so the Old man Jose that we cut his nails got batized this last Sunday. His Baptism was really funny. I gave the talk about how we can endure to the end. I made a Jesus buck for Jose that is the wage of the obedient, which is eternal life. He liked it a lot and when I gave it to him he was looking at the Jesus picture and was moving it back and forth saying that no matter where he moves it Jesus is always looking as him, hahaha. Then when he got in the water he was like , "I got wet", and was walking around trying to find something to hold on to, haha. But they finally got him baptized. He gave his testimony on how he felt and said "before that bath I was hurting in my knees and my head, but now I feel like a 15 year old" and started boxing the air and dancing, hahaha. What a funny old man, and a hilarios baptism, hahaha.

So pretty much that was really a fun week and Yes you can pray for the Family Gomez and Cynthia and Jaime Benitiz. They are two super awesome families we are working with and I love them very much!!!!!!

You are my family and I love you! A whole super Rantan buco poco ton! Big Hearts!!!!!

Love,

Hermana Ochs